How Much Can You Make Trading 0DTE Options?

Let's skip the screenshots of $500 turning into $50,000 and talk about what's actually achievable with 0DTE options on a consistent basis.

The Math Behind 0DTE Returns

Your returns depend on three variables: strategy, win rate, and position sizing. Here's what the numbers actually look like for different approaches.

Scenario 1: Conservative Credit Spreads

Selling 0DTE credit spreads on SPX — collecting $0.50–$1.00 on $5-wide spreads.

  • Win rate: 75–82% (based on selling 10-delta spreads)
  • Average win: $65 per spread
  • Average loss: $350 per spread
  • Trades per week: 5 (daily)
  • Monthly expectation on $50,000 account: $800–$1,500

    • That's a 1.5–3% monthly return. Doesn't sound exciting until you annualize it: 18–36% per year. Most hedge funds would kill for that consistency.

    Scenario 2: Moderate Iron Condors

    Selling 0DTE iron condors on SPX with $10-wide wings.

  • Win rate: 65–72%
  • Average win: $150 per condor
  • Average loss: $500 per condor
  • Trades per week: 4
  • Monthly expectation on $50,000 account: $600–$1,200

    • Scenario 3: Aggressive Directional Plays

    Buying 0DTE calls or puts based on technical setups.

  • Win rate: 30–40%
  • Average win: $300
  • Average loss: $120
  • Trades per week: 8–10
  • Monthly expectation on $50,000 account: $500–$2,500 (highly variable)

    • This is the highest-variance approach. Some months you'll make $4,000. Other months you'll lose $2,000. The equity curve looks like a rollercoaster.

    What the Data Actually Shows

    Backtesting 0DTE credit spreads on SPX from 2018–2025 using OptionsPilot reveals some important patterns:

  • Best year (2023): 42% return — low volatility, steady premium collection
  • Worst year (2020): -8% return — March crash wiped out several months of gains
  • Average annual return: 22%
  • Max drawdown: 18%
  • Sharpe ratio: 1.3

    • These are realistic numbers for a disciplined trader using defined-risk strategies with proper position sizing.

    The Income Table Nobody Shows You

    Here's what consistent 0DTE trading looks like at different account sizes, assuming a conservative 2% monthly return:

    | Account Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income | $10,000$200$2,400 $25,000$500$6,000 $50,000$1,000$12,000 $100,000$2,000$24,000 | $250,000 | $5,000 | $60,000 |

    The compounding effect matters too. A $50,000 account growing at 2% monthly becomes roughly $80,000 after two years if you reinvest gains.

    What Separates Profitable Traders from the Rest

    After analyzing thousands of backtested 0DTE strategies, the pattern is clear:

    Profitable traders do these things:

  • Trade the same strategy every day with mechanical rules
  • Size positions at 1–3% of account risk
  • Take profits at predefined levels (usually 50% of max profit for sellers)
  • Cut losses quickly without hesitation
  • Avoid trading during FOMC days and major economic events

    • Unprofitable traders do these things:

  • Switch strategies constantly
  • Oversize positions after a winning streak
  • Hold losers hoping for a reversal
  • Chase trades they missed
  • Trade every single day regardless of conditions

    • The Honest Answer

    On a $50,000 account with disciplined execution, $800–$1,500 per month is achievable. That's not life-changing money, but it compounds. And it's consistent enough to build on.

    Can you make more? Yes, with larger accounts, more aggressive strategies, or exceptional skill at reading intraday flow. But start with conservative expectations and let the data prove your edge before sizing up.